Whistler opens wallets for injured Samurai Sushi employee

Miki Kudo remains in intensive care after February car accident

lending a handTakumi Kudo (left, pictured with best friend Aki Okada) was on hand to make lunch for Samurai staff that volunteered their time for a record-breaking busy day, to help raise money for his wife Miki Kudo, seriously injured in a February car accident.

Whistler has done it again, opening its wallets and its hearts for long-term residents Miki and Takumi Kudo.

In one day, the community raised close to $60,000 to help the couple in the wake of Miki's life-changing car accident. She remains in intensive care in Vancouver more than two months after her accident.

In the meantime, their employers and their friends rallied to help them. Both work at Samurai Sushi and Takumi also works at Roland's Pub.

On Monday, April 6, Samurai Sushi donated all sales, wages and tips to the couple. This was followed by an evening event at Roland's Creekside Pub.

"Whistler was awesome," said Ru Mehta, owner of Samurai Sushi where Miki Kudo has worked for nine years. "I knew they would come through. It's always the same here... People were coming in and buying a $10 special and leaving a $20, or $50, or buying more raffle tickets. That just kept going all day long."

Mike Roland called the fundraiser efforts a "huge success" going far beyond what they had hoped to raise.

The money will be going to help pay for expenses.

Takumi, added Roland, has been by Miki's side every day since the accident. He has been living with Roland's parents in the city.